Plant and process for automatically gluing polarizing lenses

ABSTRACT

A plant for the continuous production of polarizing lenses includes a coil polarizing film feeding station; a glass convex lens feeding station; a concave lens feeding station; an under vacuum film shaping station; a deposition and gluing outer convex lens station; a translation station for the pre-glued lenses; a deposition and gluing inner concave lens station; a lens separation and film cutting station; and a palletization station for the finished lenses; and a method.

The present invention relates to plant and process for automaticallygluing polarising lenses.

More specifically, the invention relates to plant and process of theabove kind allowing to obtain in a completely automatic manner a socalled “coupled” polarised lens (lens-film-lens) having a null power, tobe used for sunglasses.

In other words, the invention allows to automatically produce polarisedblanks for the subsequent production of glass lenses.

Coming now to provide as an introduction some information concerning thepolarising lenses, it is well known that visible light is comprised ofelectromagnetic waves, having a wavelength approximately between 380 and780 nm.

Other features of the luminous radiations are the radiation intensity adgeometry of the electromagnetic wave oscillation.

As to the oscillation geometry, also known as “polarisation”, it canoccur according to randomly oriented planes, also known as “randompolarisation” or “non polarised”, or according to a single plane(“linear polarisation”), i.e. within a cylindrical surface (“circularpolarisation”).

Naturally, light usually is not polarised. Reflection on reflectingsurfaces (glazed doors, water surfaces, snow or ice surfaces, bright orwet asphalt) and having suitable angles, produces a certain degree ofpolarisation.

The effect is that of a glow coming from the zone of the surface wherethe polarised reflection is maximum. A remarkable inconvenience for theview is caused by the strong reflection. For example, this effect, onthe water surfaces, prevents the vision under the water surface.

Polarising lenses are able to filter direct light as a standard “sun”lens and to eliminate (according to a certain degree of efficiency,polarised reflected light which is particularly troublesome.

Main comfort is the elimination of the fastidious reflexes normallypresent on the glazed doors, water mirrors, iced surfaces and asphaltedroads.

Glasses polarised lenses are usually comprised of two thin lensesbetween which the polarising film is interposed.

Lenses and film are coupled by an adhesive placed on both faces of thefilm, thus realising an assembly having five layers:

outer or “convex” lens;

glue;

polarising film;

glue;

inner or “concave” lens”.

Additional outer or inner layers can be comprised of surface treatmentsto confer to the lenses particular esthetical or mechanical properties.

Optical properties of the whole assembled lens depends on the propertiesof the single layers and also on the geometrical regularity of theassembling phase. A uneven amount of glue, or non-parallelism among thedifferent layers, produces optical effects not acceptable for thefinished product (aberrations, distortions and optical definition loss).

The known assembling technique provides the use of preformed film (i.e.already curved by the manufacturer) and then the manual gluing afterhaving applied the adhesive on both the film surfaces.

Then, adhesive is catalysed by UV lamps.

It can be easily understood that such a process does not ensureconcentricity of filtering and transparent layers and thus of the liquidlayers (adhesive) before the catalysation, with the consequent abovementioned optical defects.

Manual assembling operations are very expensive since they require avery long time and they must be carried out paying a great care byskilled personnel to avoid and eliminate air bubbles produced during theapproaching of the lenses to the adhesive and already present on thesame adhesive.

This kind of solution is shown for exemplificative purposes in FIG. 1a.

Up to date, the Applicant has privileged the production of glasspolarising lenses, since the precision and geometrical stability of thelenses which are optically worked are preferred.

Generally speaking, technology employed until today to glue the lensesprovides the shaping of the polarised film by different methods and thenthe manual gluing after having placed the adhesive on the two filmsurfaces.

Afterwards, catalysation of the adhesive is carried out by UV lamps.

Process according to the prior art does not ensure the concentricity ofthe filtering and transparent layers and thus the thickness of theliquid layers (adhesive), before catalysation.

Consequently, a series of optical defects occur such as aberrations,distortions and optical definition loss.

It is well evident that manual assembling operations are very expensivesince they require a very long time and they must be carried out payinga great care by skilled personnel to avoid and eliminate air bubblesproduced during the approaching of the lenses to the adhesive andalready present on the same adhesive.

Main object of the present invention is that of solving the abovementioned drawbacks characteristic of the manual workings.

Particularly, the solution according to the present invention allows toobtain a high optical precision of the spherical surfaces comprising thelens, thus eliminating defects (air bubbles, ecc.).

Furthermore, the invention avoids any risk of low productivity, or inany case the need of a high number of personnel, being the processcompletely automated, and allows to obtain a high productiverepetitiveness and a remarkable average quality standard.

These and other results are obtained according to the invention,providing improvement in the under vacuum application and shaping of thepolarising film, in the prism, optical definition and aberration defectselimination, by the control of the curvature rays and of the thicknessof the five layers comprising the lens, and by the realisation of acompletely automatic plant for the realisation of the lens starting fromblanks (lenses and polarising film).

It is therefore specific object of the present invention a plant for thecontinuous production of polarising lenses, comprising a coil polarisingfilm feeding station; a glass convex lens feeding station; a concavelens feeding station; an under vacuum film shaping station on sphericalmoulds; a deposition and gluing outer convex lens station; a translationstation for the pre-glued lenses; a deposition and gluing inner concavelens station; a lens separation and film cutting station; and apalletisation station for the finished lenses, said plant functioningautomatically.

In a preferred embodiment of the plant according to the presentinvention said concave and convex lens deposition and gluing stationsprovide an approaching motion of the lens to the glue bead in such a wayto realise a substantially point contact between lens and glue, withoutair trapping.

Preferably, according to the invention, the lens is approached to thebead with its axis not coinciding and after the contact a diagonalmotion of the lens is realised until centring the same, followed by aslight vertical pressure to preliminarily spread the glue.

Still according to the invention, after said vertical pressure a spiralor circular rotatory motion can be carried out to further spread the andto homogenise the glue.

Preferably, according to the invention, said film fed on a coil isprovided on a protection support, in said coil film feeding station acollection coil for the protection support being provided.

Furthermore, according to the invention, downward said glass convex lensfeeding station an orienteering station is provided (to apply orientedcoatings, such as degrading coatings, or for use with de-centred lenses,wherein optical centre does not coincide with the geometrical centre).

Always according to the invention, upward the palletisation station amarking section to mark the polarisation axis can be provided.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a washing station can beprovided, wherein thin lenses to be glued can be washed by an automaticapparatus, employing suitable detergents, ultrasounds, rinsing bydemineralised and osmotised water.

Still according to the invention, said washing station can be connectedin correspondence of its end part where the washed lenses are returned,with the concave and convex lens feeding stations.

Preferably, according to the invention, two separate washing stationsare provided, respectively for the inner and the outer lenses, forexample employing two automatic washing machines (mainly in case ofdirect connection with the relevant charging station of the originalgluing apparatus), or with a single automatic washing machinealternatively used for the two washings.

It is well evident that the automatic washing before the gluing phase isvery important since it avoids to obtain defective finished lenses thatcannot be recovered, due to the presence of impurties within the layers,caused to a not complete washing or to a subsequent deposit of dust, incase the lenses are washed in a separate apparatus.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the washing station and thegluing station are closed within a depulverised room, which is providedwith a laminar air flow with absolute filters.

Always according to the invention, the finished product can be subjectedto a washing in another automatic apparatus, preferably equal to theapparatus employed to wash the lenses to be glued, provided at the exitof the same gluing apparatus.

Automatic washing after gluing is very important since it eliminates theglue residuals (that as oleos residuals can contaminate also the lenssurfaces), generally due to the dirtying of the mechanical parts of thegluing apparatus during the normal continuative work.

This washing station too, along with the other parts of the plant, canbe closed within a depulverised room provided with laminar air flow withabsolute filters.

Always according to the invention, it can be provided a testing stationin order to be possible to test the finished lenses to verify cosmeticdefects of any kind.

Said operation is important to reveal eventual defects induced by thesame gluing phase, such as air bubbles and polarising film defects(impurities, holes or tears, plies).

Preferably, said operation is carried out by the integration of anautomatic system, at the end of the gluing apparatus, said systememploying artificial vision.

To this end, it is necessary the contemporaneous use of the automaticwashing system, interposed between gluing and testing apparatuses.

In order to improve the uniformity of the glue layer between lens andfilm, on one or both the lenses, the application of a pressure on all orpart of the lens surface, by a curved plug, can be provided during thegluing phase.

In this way, forcing the spreading of the glue, a better geometricalregularity of the layer and thus better optical performances of thefinished coupled lens, is reached.

Furthermore, according to the invention, in order to confer to thefinished lens particular features, polarising film having one or more ofthe following further properties can be used:

UV-blocking, i.e. a transmission close to 0% of UV radiation up to 400nm;

high efficiency, i.e. high difference of the absorbency of polarisedfilm when the film is perpendicular to the polarisation direction withrespect to when it is parallel to the polarisation direction;

black-crossing, i.e. minimum variation of the colour tone of thepolarised light when the film is perpendicular to the polarisationdirection, with respect to when it is parallel to the polarisationdirection.

Furthermore, according to the invention, in order to confer to thefinished lens particular features, adhesive having one or more of thefollowing further properties can be used:

UV-blocking, i.e. a transmission close to 0% of UV radiation;

high protection of the film with respect to the ageing anddecolorisation (feature mainly connected to the UV absorption, sinceglue surrounds the film on the two surface);

high resistance to the impact breaking, in such a way to be able toeasily satisfy the resistance requisites provided by the internationalrules;

high resistance to the delamination, i.e. better adhesiveness to theglass and film surfaces, in such a way to withstand to the outerphysical-chemical agents aggression (such as humid and/or hotatmosphere, salted atmospheres, ecc.);

catalysation capability at a higher wavelength (particularly beyond UV),in such a way to be catalysed by broad spectrum UV blocking lamps (suchas some kinds of polarising films and some kinds of glass and coating).

Always according to the invention, in order to allow the catalysationalso in case of presence of layers blocking UV (such as some polarisingfilms and some kinds of glass and coating), it is possible to use lampshaving a broad emission spectrum, preferably combined with specialadhesives.

It is further specific object of the present invention a process for theproduction of polarising lenses, comprising the steps of:

feeding polarising film from a coil;

feeding convex lenses;

feeding concave lenses;

under vacuum shaping the film on spherical moulds;

depositing and gluing the outer convex lenses;

translating the pre-glued lenses;

depose and gluing the inner concave lenses;

separating the lenses and eliminating the exceeding film from the singlelenses;

palletsing the finished polarising lenses,

all the steps of the process being performed automatically.

Preferably, according to the invention, said concave and convex lensdeposition and gluing phases provide an approaching motion of the lensto the glue bead in such a way to realise a substantially point contactbetween lens and glue, with a coupling speed in function of the surfacetension of the bead such as not to allow that the expansion front of thebead closes thus trapping air.

Always according to the invention, the lens is preferably approached tothe bead with its axis not coinciding and after the contact a diagonalmotion of the lens is realised until centring the same, followed by aslight vertical pressure to preliminarily spread the glue.

Still according to the invention, after said vertical pressure a spiralor circular rotatory motion can be carried out to further spread the andto homogenise the glue.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said film fed on a coil can beprovided on a protection support to collected, when separated by asuitable coil.

Still according to the invention, said process can provide downward saidglass convex lens feeding station an orienteering phase (to applyoriented coatings, such as degrading coatings, or for use withde-centred lenses, wherein optical centre does not coincide with thegeometrical centre).

Always according to the invention, upward the palletisation station amarking phase to mark the polarisation axis can be provided.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a washing phase of the lensesto be glued and a washing phase of the final product can be provided.

Still according to the invention, an automatic testing phase of thefinished product can be provided.

Always according to the invention, during said gluing phase theapplication of pressure on allow only on part of the surface of the lenscan be provided.

Furthermore, according to the invention, in order to confer to thefinished lens particular features, polarising film having one or more ofthe following further properties can be used:

UV-blocking, i.e. a transmission close to 0% of UV radiation up to 400nm;

high efficiency, i.e. high difference of the absorbency of polarisedfilm when the film is perpendicular to the polarisation direction withrespect to when it is parallel to the polarisation direction;

black-crossing, i.e. minimum variation of the colour tone of thepolarised light when the film is perpendicular to the polarisationdirection, with respect to when it is parallel to the polarisationdirection.

Furthermore, in order to confer to the finished lens particularfeatures, adhesive having one or more of the following furtherproperties can be used:

UV-blocking, i.e. a transmission close to 0% of UV radiation;

high protection of the film with respect to the ageing anddecolorisation (feature mainly connected to the UV absorption, sinceglue surrounds the film on the two surface);

high resistance to the impact breaking, in such a way to be able toeasily satisfy the resistance requisites provided by the internationalrules;

high resistance to the delamination, i.e. better adhesiveness to theglass and film surfaces, in such a way to withstand to the outerphysical-chemical agents aggression (such as humid and/or hotatmosphere, salted atmospheres, ecc.);

catalysation capability at a higher wavelength (particularly beyond UV),in such a way to be catalysed by broad spectrum UV blocking lamps (suchas some kinds of polarising films and some kinds of glass and coating).

Finally, according to the invention, in order to allow the catalysationalso in case of the presence of layers blocking UV rays (such as in somekind of polarising films and some kinds of glass or coating), lampshaving a broad emission spectrum, preferably combined with specialadhesives, are used.

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but notlimitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, withparticular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1a is a section view of a polarising lens realised according to theknown technique;

FIG. 1b is an exploded view of a glass polarising lens realised by thegluing technique of two caps with the polarising film;

FIG. 1c is a section view of a lens according to the invention duringthe first assembling phase;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the operation of the plant according to theinvention;

FIG. 3, is a plan schematic view of the plant according to theinvention; and

FIGS. from 4 a to 4 f schematically show the different phases of theshaping and gluing procedure.

In FIG. 1a, the structure of a polarising lens according to the priorart is shown, wherein between an outer glass and an inner glass thepre-shaped polarising film is placed. Manual gluing of the lenses andthe film is troublesome. Furthermore, the pre-shaping of the polarisingfilm induces some deformations of the coupling.

Observing now FIGS. 1b and 1 c, it can be seen a lens realised accordingto the present invention, comprising an outer lens 1, an inner lens 2and a polarising wafer 3 placed between said lenses 1 and 2 and coupledwith the outer lens by UV activated UV adhesive.

Making now shortly reference to FIG. 2, from the block diagram it ispossible to individuate gluing machine A, polarising film feedingsection B, outer lens feeding section C, inner lens feeding section D,eventually the outer lens orienteering station E (blurred e out ofcentre), adhesive feeding station F, protective film exit and polarisingdischarge station G, station H for trimming of the film on the finishedlens, eventually polarisation axis marking station I (this operationcould also not be present), and station L for depositing the finishedlenses.

The plant according to the invention, which is schematically shown inFIG. 3, provides the use of blanks such as two thin lenses 1 and 2,eventually treated by coating, the film or polarised wafer and theadhesive, allowing to obtain the complete assembled lens.

Operations carried out in the plant according to the invention are allautomatic and connected each other, so that the intervention of thepersonnel is required only for (intermittently) charging of thematerials and for the general supervision of the plant.

Schematising the logic of operation of the plant, it is possible toindividuate the following main logical groups:

a) feeding of the polarising film from a coil and collection of theprotection film (if necessary) in coils;

b) feeding of convex lenses, with eventual orienteering station (forapplication of oriented coating, such as degrading coatings, or for theapplication with out of centre lenses, having the optical centre notcoinciding with the geometrical centre);

c) feeding concave lenses;

d) under vacuum shaping of the film on spherical moulds;

e) deposition and gluing of outer convex lenses;

f) translation of the pre-glued lenses;

g) deposition and gluing of inner concave lenses;

h) separation of the lenses and cut of the exceeding film from thesingle lenses;

i) palletisation of the finished polarising lenses on frames.

Coming now to particularly observe FIG. 3 of the drawings, the feedingstep of the polarising film occurs with the film provided on rolls.

In view of the little thickness of the film (about 0.04 mm), the samecan be provided on a plastic support having a slightly bigger thicknessand which is adhesive, in such a way to preserve its integrity beforeits use.

Thus, the plant according to the invention provides a roll 4 receivingthe film coil; the film, eventually with the support, is unwound and,passing trough rolls determining a sharp deviation with a short ray, isdetached from the support, which is again rolled on another roll 5.

Now, the separated film proceeds toward the inner part of the plant andparticularly toward the shaping station, generically indicated by thereference number 6.

Dragging occurs by the roll 5 collecting the support, said roll pullingthe support and thus indirectly the film; roll 4 of the film is providedwith a friction in such a way to maintain the film with the propertension.

As to the feeding phase of the glass convex lenses, they are singularlyprovided within metallic racks.

A plurality of racks is provided in a housing structure provided with abidimensional plan movement, in such a way to bring each lens accordingto a sequence in the same charging position 6.

Single lens is lifted by a pneumatic actuator with a little inclinationwith respect to the vertical, in such a way to make it ascend resting ona metallic plane without turnover.

Lens is then deposited on a conveyor belt bringing the same in theoperative position of the other parts of the plant.

Before using the same, it is provided the possibility of orienteeringthe (circular) lenses, when they have a blurred surface coloration, soas to have the blurred direction oriented in a definite way with respectto the polarisation axis (geometrically determined by the filmadvancement direction).

Orienteering station 7 uses a vision system provided with a matrixcamera watching a sector of the lens by transparency with respect to alightening apparatus. Lens is rotated under the control of the visionsystem until obtaining the correct positioning in function of theblurring.

Each single lens is collected from the conveyor belt, deposited in theorienteering station, collected from the latter and deposited in a twoposition station 8 by a two arm pneumatic device.

The two position deposit station 8 is necessary since the followingrobot charges two lenses each time.

Concave lenses are singularly placed within metallic racks. A pluralityof racks is provided within a housing structure having a bidimensionalplane motion, in such a way to bring each lens according to a specificsequence in the same charging position 9.

This station is perfectly identical to the other one, with the soledifference that the lenses are collected in parallel pair by twopneumatic lifters, since the following robot charges two lenses eachtime.

Before their use, lenses are upturned by a pneumatic control device 10,to have the overturned grip of the lens, since the inner lens must beglued on the outer surface.

The film separated from the support runs toward the inside of themachine, is placed on a multiple mould 11, to exactly assume the samecurvature of the lens to be obtained.

As it can be seen from FIGS. from 4 a to 4 f, the shape is obtainedheating for few seconds the film by an upper electrical radiator whichis brought in position only during the operation, and by the applicationof vacuum between the mould 11 and the film.

Vacuum allows to obtain the perfect shaping of the film, while theheating allows its deformation without tearing or defects of the film.

The deposition and gluing phase of the (outer) convex lens 1 is carriedout by a quite precise robot 13, in this case a “scara” kind robot.Precision must be remarkable both for ripetitiveness of the positionsand, mainly, for the maximum softness and regularity of the movement.

Robot collects a couple of lenses from the deposit station 8 and bringsthem on a ionisation device 14 that, by a ionised airflow, eliminateseventual dust particles and prevents their deposition shortly after.

Afterwards, the robot is positioned on the gluing zone (FIG. 4b) (inthis case coinciding with the shaping mould), deposits a determinedamount of adhesive (dosed by a volumetric metering) and then approachesthe lens on the adhesive (FIG. 4c).

This approaching movement of the lens to the adhesive bead is the mostpeculiar feature of the plant according to the invention (see inparticular FIGS. 4c- 4 f).

The realised approaching and the geometry of the movements eliminatesthe creation of air bubbles and makes it possible the gluing without thesupervision and the work of a man.

The gluing movement is comprised of two preparation phases of the lensand of other approaching and motion phases of the lens.

FIG. 4a: shaping of the polarising film on a mould, by heating andapplication of the vacuum to adhere the film to the mould.

FIG. 4b: dosing of the adhesive.

FIG. 4c: fast approaching of the lens to the film, in the correctposition on the mould by an out of centre and vertical motion, withoutany contact with the adhesive.

FIG. 4d: approaching of the lens on the liquid adhesive bead with asuitable motion law. Diagonal movement of the lens with pressure of theadhesive to avoid the creation of bubbles.

FIG. 4e: centring the lens and distribution of the adhesive by amovement realising the uniform thickness and constant of the liquid.

FIG. 4f: final compaction spiral or circular rotatory motion to spreadand homogenise the adhesive (this operation can is not indispensable andcan also be omitted).

At the end of the charging in the shaping station, the catalysation iscarried out by UV lamps.

Now, lens group, still coupled to the polarising film (both among themand with the coil of film), it is collected from the mould by a multiplesuction cups device 15, providing to the advancement and to thefollowing turnover of the lens group.

Between the translation and turnover operations, the film (stillcontinuous) is transversely cut by a thin hot electric resistance 16.

After the turnover, lenses are directly in the deposition position 17 of(inner) concave lenses 2.

The operation is carried out by a second robot 18, similar to thepreceding one.

The robot 18 collects a pair of lenses from the deposit station 10 andbrings them on a ionisation device 19 that, with a ionised air flow,eliminates possible dust particles and prevents their deposition shortlyafter.

As it occurred for the first lens 1, robot 18 is positioned on thegluing zone 17, deposits a determined amount of adhesive and thenapproaches the lens to the adhesive.

The same deposition and catalysation steps used for the convex lenses(FIGS. 4a- 4 f) are also respected.

The lens group, still coupled each other by the polarising film, isagain upturned by a multiple suction cups device 20, and brought to theseparation position 21.

The separation occurs by a grid of thin hot electric resistances 22, bya pneumatic rotatory movement.

Each single lens is collected by a numeric control handling device 23and temporarily deposited in a trimming station 24, where the exceedingpart of the film with respect to the “coupled” kind lens (lens, film,lens) is eliminated by an oscillating blade and the rotation of thelens.

Handling device 23 takes again the lens and deposit the same on thedischarge conveyor belt 25 for the finished lenses.

Finished lenses are singularly placed within racks. A plurality of racksis placed in a housing structure provided with a bidimensional planemovement, in such a way to bring each lens according to a sequence inthe predetermined discharge position 26. The system is mechanicallyequivalent to the charging stations, being used with a reverse lensflow.

The present invention has been described for. illustrative but notlimitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it isto be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced bythose skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope asdefined in the enclosed claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plant for the continuous production ofpolarizing lenses, comprising: a coil polarizing film feeding station; aglass convex lens feeding station; a concave lens feeding station; avacuum film shaping station having spherical moulds, the coil polarizingfilm feeding station configured to automatically feed polarizing filmfrom a coil to the vacuum shaping station, the vacuum film shapingstation configured to automatically vacuum shape the film on thespherical moulds to form a shaped film; a deposition and gluing outerconvex lens station configured for automatically robot feeding an outerconvex lens to the shaped film to contact a glue bead on the shapedfilm; a translation station for pre-glued lenses; a deposition andgluing inner concave lens station configured for automatically robotcoupling of a concave lens to the shaped film; a lens separation andfilm cutting station for trimming the film from a finished lens; and apalletization station for the finished lenses, wherein said concave andconvex lens deposition and gluing stations comprise a robot arm withcontrolling means for controlling the robot arm to approach the lens toa glue bead and contact the lens to the glue bead to provide asubstantial point of contact between the lens and the glue bead free ofany trapped air, and the controlling means controls the robot arm i) sothat the lens is approached to the glue bead with an axis of the lensnot coinciding with an axis of the glue bead at the point of contactbetween the lens and the glue bead, ii) so that after the point ofcontact is accomplished, the robot arm realizes a diagonal motion of thelens with respect to the glue bead to center the lens on the glue bead,and iii) so that after the lens is centered on the glue bead, a verticalpressure is applied by the robot arm to the lens to spread the glue to auniform thickness and free of any trapped air.
 2. The plant of claim 1,wherein, the controlling means further controls the robot arm so thatafter the vertical pressure is applied to spread the glue, the robot armcarries out a spiral or circular rotary motion against the lens tofurther spread and homogenize the glue.
 3. The plant of claim 1, whereinthe coil film feeding station comprises a collection coil for aprotection support provided on said film.
 4. The plant of claim 1,further comprising: an orienting station, located downward of said glassconvex lens feeding station, to apply oriented coatings to the lens. 5.The plant of claim 1, further comprising: a marking section for markinga polarization axis located upward of the palletization station.
 6. Theplant of claim 1, further comprising: a washing station for automatedwashing of lenses yet to be glue.
 7. The plant of claim 6, wherein thewashing station comprises at least one of a detergent element, anultrasound element, a rinsing by demineralized water part, and rinsingby osmotized water part.
 8. The plant of claim 6, wherein the washingstation is connected in correspondence of an end part where washedlenses are returned, to the concave and convex lens feeding stations. 9.The plant of claim 6, wherein the washing station comprises a washingstation for inner lenses and a washing station for outer lenses.
 10. Theplant of claim 6, wherein the washing station comprises a singleautomated washing machine.
 11. The plant of claim 6, wherein the washingstation and the gluing stations are closed within a depulverized room,the depulverized room comprising absolute filters for providing laminarair flow within the room.
 12. The plant of claim 6, further comprising:a final washing station downward of said lens separation and filmcutting station for washing the finished lenses.
 13. The plant of claim12, wherein said washing station and said final washing station are ofthe same type.
 14. The plant of claim 1, further comprising; adepulverized room provided with absolute filters and a laminar air flowsystem.
 15. The plant of claim 1, further comprising: a testing stationto test the finished lenses for defects.
 16. The plant of claim 15,wherein, said testing station is located downward of said deposition andgluing inner concave lens station; and said testing station comprises anautomated artificial vision system.
 17. The plant of claim 2, whereinthe robot arm comprises a curved plug for applying the vertical pressureto provide a uniform glue layer between the lens and an underlying film.18. An automated method of producing polarizing lenses, comprising thesteps of: feeding polarizing film from a coil to a vacuum shapingstation; vacuum shaping the film on a spherical mould; applying a gluebead to an upper surface of the shaped film; robot feeding an outerconvex lens to the shaped film and contacting the glue bead; and robotpressing the convex lens against the glue bead on the shaped film toform a convex lens and film part, a space between the convex lens andthe film being of a constant thickness, filled with glue and free of anytrapped air, wherein all the steps are automated, and in said step ofrobot feeding the outer convex lens to the shaped film to contact theglue bead, the lens approaches the glue bead with an axis of the lensbeing non-coincident with an axis of the glue bead, after contacting thelens to the glue bead, the lens is diagonally moved to center the axisof the lens with the axis of the glue bead, and a vertical pressure isapplied via the lens to initially spread the glue of the glue bead. 19.The method of claim 18, comprising the further steps of: feeding aninner concave lens to a gluing station; applying a glue bead to an uppersurface of the concave lens; bringing the convex lens and film part tothe concave lens to contact the glue bead; pressing the convex lensagainst the glue bead on the concave lens to form a uniform thickness ofglue free of trapped air intermediate the film and the concave lens,wherein a bonded lens is formed, and all the steps are automated. 20.The method of claim 19, comprising the further steps of: eliminatingexcess film from the bonded lens to form a finished polarizing lens; andpalletizing the finished polarizing lens, wherein all the steps areautomated.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein, in said step of robotfeeding the outer convex lens to the shaped film to contact the gluebead, a coupling of lens to the shaped film at a substantial point ofcontact has a coupling speed controlled as a function of a surfacetension of the glue bead so as to avoid an expansion front of the gluebead from trapping air.
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein, after saidinitial spreading of the glue, said step of robot pressing the convexlens against the glue bead on the shaped film to form a convex lens andfilm part, includes a vertical pressure with a spiral motion to furtherspread and homogenize the glue.
 23. The method of claim 18, wherein,after said initial spreading of the glue, said step of robot pressingthe convex lens against the glue bead on the shaped film to form aconvex lens and film part, includes a vertical pressure with a rotarymotion to further spread and homogenize the glue.
 24. The method ofclaim 20, comprising the further steps of: providing the film on aprotection support; separating the film from the protection support; andcollecting the protection support on a collection coil.
 25. The methodof claim 18, comprising the further step of: applying an orientedcoating to said convex lens.
 26. The method of claim 20, comprising thefurther step of: prior to said step of palletizing, marking apolarization axis of the lens.
 27. The method of claim 18, comprisingthe further step of: washing the lens to be glued.
 28. The method ofclaim 20, comprising the further step of: automated testing of thefinished lens.
 29. The method of claim 18, wherein, in said step ofpressing the convex lens against the glue bead on the shaped film,pressure is applied only on a part of an upper surface of the convexlens.
 30. The method of claim 19, comprising the further step of:catalyzing the glue with lamps having a broad emission spectrum.
 31. Anautomated method of producing polarizing lenses, comprising the stepsof: feeding polarizing film from a coil to a vacuum shaping station;vacuum shaping the film on a spherical mould to form a shaped film;applying a glue bead to an upper surface of the shaped film; feeding anouter lens to the shaped film and contacting the glue bead, in feedingthe outer lens to the shaped film, the lens approaches the glue beadwith an axis of the lens being non-coincident with an axis of the gluebead, the lens initially contacting the glue bead with the axis of thelens being non-coincident with the axis of the glue bead; aftercontacting the lens to the glue bead, diagonally moving the lens tocoincide the axis of the lens with the axis of the glue bead; andcoupling of lens to the shaped film with a coupling speed controlled asa function of a surface tension of the glue bead so as to avoid anexpansion front of the glue bead from trapping air, wherein a space isprovided between the convex lens and the film of a constant thickness,filed with glue and free of any trapped air, and wherein all the stepsare automated.
 32. The method of claim 31, comprising the further stepsof: feeding an inner concave lens to a gluing station; applying a gluebead to an upper surface of the concave lens; bringing the convex lensand film part to the concave lens to contact the glue bead; pressing theconvex lens against the glue bead on the concave lens to form a uniformthickness of glue free of trapped air intermediate the film and theconcave lens, wherein a bonded lens is formed, and all the steps areautomated.
 33. The method of claim 32, comprising the further steps of:eliminating excess film from the bonded lens to form a finishedpolarizing lens; and palletizing the finished polarizing lens, whereinall the steps are automated.